By Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka
Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration is set to commission at least 18 projects during the third anniversary celebration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike disclosed this on Monday, May 18, 2026, while speaking to journalists after an inspection tour of ongoing projects and the site of a collapsed three-storey building in Gudu. He said the projects were chosen for their direct impact on residents and the FCT economy.
During the tour, Wike inspected the road and bridge linking the Central Business District and Wuse District, commending contractor Levant Nigeria Limited but urging them to complete the work by the first week of June. He also visited the Mabushi bus terminal road being handled by Setraco and the Jahi-Gwarimpa Bridge Interchange constructed by CBC Global.
“I think we are doing quite a good job…by May 28 we should be able to say the total number of projects available. But with the way we are going, it will not be less than 20. Assuming it doesn’t get to 20, it cannot be less than 18 projects,” the minister said.
Wike also addressed the Gudu building collapse that killed four people and injured nine. He described the incident as pathetic and ordered the Director of Development Control to set up a panel to investigate the cause. One engineer has been arrested, the developer is expected to be apprehended, and the site has been sealed.
The minister stressed that developers must allow government agencies to supervise every stage of construction, especially for large projects. He noted that officials often face blackmail when enforcing compliance with building regulations, despite the risks to public safety.
“All these are very key. What materials are they using? Are they doing the soil test? What is the result? Can it allow for two floors or three floors?” Wike asked, adding that strict adherence to standards was critical to preventing future disasters. He said protecting lives and property remained government’s primary responsibility.
At the collapse site, Director of Development Control, Dr. Tpl Sunusi Bashir Madaki, gave a preliminary report indicating that the soil consisted of dredged waterways filled with debris and clay. He said an undetected two-metre local well at the location caused columns C and D of the structure to be placed on unstable ground, leading to the collapse.
